Well apparatus



Sept. 21 1926.

E. VOORHIES WELL APPARATUS Filed July 15' x925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORATTORNEYS.

Sept. 21,1926. I 1,600,439 F. E. VOORHIES WELL APPARATUS Filed July 15.1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTREYS.

Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK E. VOOBHIES, 0] LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

WELL APPARATUS.

Application filed January 15, 1925. Serial No. 2,560.

This invention relates to well apparatus, and has for an object theprovision of a device which will handle strings of casing or tubing in asafe manner and which is so formed and constructed that the necessityfor a rigid derrick system is entirely done away with, which device maybe readily used for coupling or uncoupling long strings of casingwithout the necessity of providing external devices such as well tongs,and which is generally superior in point of relative simplicity andinexpensiveness of construction, taken in conjunction with utility,durability and general serviceability.

In practicing the invention and in one embodiment thereof, I contemplateusing my improved device in conjunction with a rotary turn-table. Saiddevice is so formed as ,to rotate bodily with such rotary turn-table orto remain stationary and directly above the turn-table. The device is soformed as to have a member adapted to engage and carry tubing, and whichmember is adapted to travel when the rotary turn-table is turned. Thusit is possible to lift strings of easing or tubing from a well hole andto stop movement of the rotary table, and by a simple change permit anuncoupling of a portion of such tubing from a remaining stand of tubing,transfer one stand to a rack or elsewhere, then lift a second stand oftubing, or toreverse the operation.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction,combination, association and interrelation of parts, members andfeatures, as illustrated in certain of its embodiments in theaccompanying drawings, described generally, and finally pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of my improved device shown associated with'arotary turntable, and with a mastdevice for holding adrilling stem;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged and vertical sectional view ofcertain features of the invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scaleof a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Fi re 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3; and,

Figure 5 is afragmentary view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the samereference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, the improved device as anentirety is designated by A, and such device includes top and bottomannular plate members a and b, respectively, separated by uprights orstandards 0, of which there may be a plurality, as shown in the figures.In the showing four of such uprights or standards are provided, whichuprights or standards are equidistantly spaced; that is to say, 90degrees apart. Likewise in the showing of the device A the plates a andb are provided with transverse openings 1 and 2 respectively, and shaftsd are adapted to have end por tions thereof passed through such openingsin the top and bottom plates (1 and b. In the showing four of suchshafts are provided spacedly arranged 90 degrees apart with pairs ofsuch shafts lying in the same plane as pairs of the uprights orstandards a. The said shafts d are screw-threaded as shown at 3, and thetop plate 11, carries annular thrust bearings e for the upper endportions of such shafts (1. One of such safts dwith its relation toelements 0 and f of the device will be described, it being understoodthat the remaining shafts are of the same construction, as are theelements e and f associated therewith. The thrust bearing e comprises aplate 4 formed with a ball-bearing race and an upper plate 5 likewiseformed with a ball-bearing race with bea ring members 6 between suchraces of the plates. The shafts d are reduced as to diameter andscrew-threaded as shown at 7, and a block 8 is adapted to rest on theplate 6 with a nut 9 on the screw-threaded part 7 and bearing againstthe block 8. The opposite end of such shaft is reduced in diameter asshown at 10, and is passed through the openings 2 in the bottom plateI). A thrust bearing f is provided for the bottom plate 6 and a collar11 is carried on the reduced portion of the shafts and bears against theupper plate 12 of the thrust; bearing 7, there being a bottom plate 13for such thrust bearing, both of such'plates 12 and 13 being formed withbearing races with roller members 14 between the races of such plates.The shaft likewise carries a pinion 15 which is keyed to the shaft.

An annular block member or spider g is formed to be carried by theshafts d and said spider member is provided with one or more transversebores 16. In the showing there would be four of such bores 16 arranged90 degrees apart and such bores are enlarged as shown at 17, theenlarged portion receiving nuts 18 having a screwthreaded engagementwith the screw threads of theshafts. The said spider is likewise formedwith a tapered inner annular surface 19 so as to receive and carry slipsor the like it which are provided with taper walls as shown at 20. Intheshowing a member j is interposed between the, surface 19 of the spider gand the surfaces 20 of the slips h. It will be seen that theconstruction as described so far is a very rigid one, as the spider 9tends to hold the shafts d in a given relation, and as certain of theshafts lie in the planes of the uprights or standards 0, twist andside-sway, and the like, in the entire structure is practically doneaway with. Further members forming a part of the device include aninternal gear is and an annular plate m. The annular plate m acts toconfine the gear is, and which gear is formed with an annular flangedbase 21.- The teeth of such gear are shown at 22, and the pinions 15associated with each shaft (Z are adapted to be in engagement with theteeth 22 of such gear la. The plate on is formed with an annularconeshaped race 23. The plate I) is likewise provided with an annularcone-shaped race 24 which lies in the same plane as the race 23, andreceived between such plates b and m and in the races thereof, arecone-shaped roller members 25. 3

The device A as just described is adapted to be used in conjunction withother well apparatus such as rotary apparatus. In the present embodimentthe said device A is associated with the rotary turn-table, whichturn-table as an entirety is designated as B. Such turn-table includesthe turn-table member 0, and a base member 1), there be ing rollers 26between such base and turntable, the turn-table being provided withteeth arranged in annular formation as shown at 27, with which teeth apinion 28 is adapted to mesh and which pinion is associated with a shaft29, the shaft 29 in turn carrying a sprocket 30. The rotary draw workswill not be shown, but it is generally understood that a chain or asimilar member is adapted to rotatethe shaft 29 to rotate the turn-table0. As is customary, the turntable 0 is provided with an inclined orbeveled annular wall 31 so that the same may receive andcarry slips 7*.

If it is desired to utilize the device A in conjunction with the rotaryap aratus B just described, the annular gear is placed on top of theturn-table o, and secured thereto by passing a pin or pins 32 through atransverse opening or openings 33 in the flanged base of such gear andinto an opening or openings 34 in the. turn-table 0. To support thedevice A above such turn-table there may be placed upon the base portionof such turntable or integrally formed therewith pedestal members 35which carry the member m. It is of'course understood that the member mmust be rigidly secured to such pedestals, and likewise that thepedestals must be suitably anchored to the base of the turn-table ifsuch pedestals are not integrally formed with such base. Thus if theshaft 29 were rotated, which would rotate the turn-table 0, the internalgear is would be rotated which would turn the pinions 15 and likewiseturn the shafts d, and if some means were used to hold the plate 6against movement, the block 9 would travel upwardly or downwardly upon hthe shafts (1, dependent upon the direction of rotation of theturntable. Accordingly I have formed in the member I) one or moretransverse openings 36 which are adapted to align with one or moretransverse openings 37 in the member m, and through such alignedopenings I may pass a pin 38 for the purpose of locking the members I)and m together to prevent rotation of the memher I). Quite obviously bylocking, the member 6 against rotation the remaining structure of thedevice A, namely, the frame, which includes the uprights 0 and the topplate a, are prevented from bodily rotating.

It is customary in rotary apparatus to provide in the cellar portiondeslgnated as C a casing head s and a casing clamp t. It

is thus possible to hold tubing which is shown in Figure 1 anddesignated as u by means of slips received in the casing clamp membersuch as illustrated in Figure 2 at 40;

In an adaptation of the invention as illustrated in Figure 1 I haveprovided a plurality of hoisting drums D, one of which may drive therotary apparatus through the medium of a suitable chain or belt 41, saiddrums being driven by a motor or the like i. shown at E, and there maybe placed adjacent the rotary turn-table and the device A a mast Fsuitably guyed by means shown at. 42 and 43, with sheaves 44 and 45journaled to such mast at upper and lower portions thereof, there beinga cable 46 adapted to be wound or unwound on or over certain of thehoisting drums, with such cable passed over such sheaves 44 and 45 andconnected with a traveling block 46, which traveling block in turn isconnected with and supports a swivel 47 for rotary drilling apparatus,it being noted that the swivel in turn is associated with a drill stem48 which is passed through the annular openings in the upper and lowerlates a and b of the device A and through t eiopenin in the spider g andthrough the turn-ta le base into the cellar portion C where it isconnected with tubing through the medium of a tool joint.

The operation, uses and advantages of the device A are as follows: If weassume that it is desired to raise tubing from the well hole and toremove stands of such tubing for placement elsewhere, such as on racks,it will be noted that no complicated derrick system is necessary andstands of tubing designated as 49 and 50 connected by a coupling 51 maybe held in a given position by means of the slips 40 in the clamp t located in the cellar C. If the spider g is in the position asillustrated, for instance, in Figure 1, the slips 1' may be removed fromthe turn-table p, the direction of rotation of the turn-table reversed,so that the shafts cl may be turned to lower the spider y, it beingnoted that the, pin 38 is holding the plate 6 against rotation. Theslips h may then be inserted within the spider g, and the turn-tablerotated so as to raise the spider g which will raise the stand or pipesor tubing from the well hole. I have assumed in this instance that thegriefstem or drilling stem 48 has been removed. When the spider hasreached its upward excursion or approximately upward excursion, therotary table is stopped as to rotation and slips may then be inserted inthe turn-table to hold the tubing, or inthe clamp t. It may be noted atthis time that the slips might remain in the clamp t during the upwardmovement of the tubing, although it is advisable to remove same to allowpassage of the coupling 51 therethrough. Assuming that the slips havenow been replaced in the clamp t to hold the tubing, and it is desiredto disconnect a stand of tubing from a remaining stand, in other words,disconnect the tubing 50 from the tubing 49 at the coupling 51, the pin38 is removed from between the members I) and m.

Referring now to Figure 4 is will be ob served that certain of the slipscarried by the spider g are provided with vertical serrations, asillustrated at 52 and 53. Like- 4 wise there would be receivedin theclamp t slips similar to those shown at 52 and 53.

The pin 38 is removed from the bores 36 and 37 and placed in alignedholes and 71 in the members 6 and 70. Thus upon turning the shaft 29 torotate the turn-table the entire structure A would be revolved, whichwould tend to uncouple the tubing 49 and 50 from the coupling 51. Itwill be noted of course that the spider g is not traveling upwardly ordownwardly, but is simply holding the tubing and the tubing is sl1ppingthrough the same, it being noted that the teeth in the remaining slimembers are formed to allow movement 0 the tubing in one direction only.

If it so happened that the screw threads of the tubing and the couplingwere of the same pitch as the screw threads of the shafts d, the pin 38might be replaced, and the uncoupling of the tubing would be completedas before, but raised during the uncoupling. If it were desired todisconnect the tubing at the coupling portion and within the cellarportion C and simply use the slips h in the spider g for lifting theuncoupled stand of such tubing, the slips 1' in the turn-table might beutilized for this purpose, it being noted that certain of such slips areprovided with vertical teeth, as illustrated in Figure 5. Similar slipswould of course be provided in the clamp t and the pin 38 would be inposition to hold the member 12 against rotation. Vhen the turn-table wasrotated the tubing would be uncoupled and the spider with its slipswould lift the disconnected tubing upwardly; A hoisting block similar tothat shown at 46 in Figure 1 might be utilized with other elements forremoving the disconnected tubing.

The device A might be used with other ap-' 'a complicated derricksystem, as it often happens that the cables used for supporting tubingbreak or the derrick collapses under the terrific strain of liftingtubing. The

shafts (1 may of course be placed under compression by ti htening nuts9, so that the chief strain is orne by the framing or uprights a. Thesize or height of the device A is not material, although-it should be ofa sufficient height to readily lift a stand of tubing so that anuncoupling operation may be performed. It is of course possible to raisea stand of the tubing a certaimheight, then hold the stand by slips inthe turn-table or in the clamp t, reverse the movement of the turn-tableso as to lower the spider y, then re-insert the slips 72, within thespider g and repeat the operation of lifting the stand of tubing.

.11; is obvious that various changes and modifications and variationsmay be made in practicing the invention, in departure from theparticular showing thereof, without departing from the true spirit ofthe invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention,'I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent: I I

1. The combination with a rotary turntable, a framing approximatelyperpendicu- 19.1 with respect to the top of such turn table, and meanswhereby said framing may be caused to rotate when the, rotary table isturned; further means being provided for holding such framing againstrotation when the turn-table is turned.

2. In combination with a rotary turntable, an internal ear mounted onsaid turn-table, top and ottom plates, and uprights extendingthere-between, a screwthreaded shaft extending between said top andbottom plates, a pinion carried on said shaft and adapted to mesh withthe teeth of said internal gear, and a spider mounted on saidscrew-threaded shaft, whereby when the rotary turn-table is turned theinternal gear is turned to rotate the pinion and the shaft to causemovement of the spider.

3. The combination with a rotary turntable having a base member, offraming mounted approximately perpendicular with respect to the top ofthe turn-table, said framing including top and bottom plate membersspaced apart and intermediate uprights between said plate members,equi-distantly spaced screw threaded shafts extend- .ing between saidtop and bottom plate members, pinions mounted on the ends of saidshafts, an internal gear carried on the turntable, and rollers betweenthe turn-table base and said bottom plate member.

4. The combination with a rotary turntable having a base member, offraming mounted approximately perpendicular, with respect to the top ofthe turn-table, said i framing including top and bottom plate membersspaced apart and intermediate uprights between said plate members,equi-distant-ly spaced screw-threaded shafts extending between said topand bottom plate members, pinions mounted on the ends of said shafts, aninternal gear carried on the turntable, a spider carried-0n saidscrew-threaded shafts and adapted for travel on said shafts, and meanswhereby said framing and spider may rotate when the turn-table isrotated. r

5. The combination with a rotary turntable having a base member, offraming mounted approximately perpendicular with respect to the top ofthe turn-table, said framing including top and bottom plate membersspaced apart and intermediate uprights between said plate members,equidistantly spaced screw-threaded shafts extending between said topand bottom plate members, pinions mounted on the ends of said shafts, aninternal gear, in mesh with the pinions carried on the turn-table, aspider carried on said screw-threaded shafts and adapted for travel onsaid shafts, and means whereby said framing and spider may rotate whenthe turn-table is rotated; further means being provided for maintainingthe framing against rotation to rotate the shafts and causemovementofthe spider.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERJCK E. VOORHIES.

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